Most people feel that their garage doors will always work the way they are supposed to. Then when they have an issue come up, they are stumped over why the issues are there. Most often, it is an issue with the opener and not the garage door. This is not necessarily bad news. It is relatively easy to diagnose where the problem with your garage door is. That is why we are here to tell you how to diagnose and troubleshoot your garage door opener.
Luckily, most issues do not indicate a major repair. If your door sim
ply will not open when you push the remote button, it could be something as simple as the battery needs replaced. That is always a great starting point for diagnosing. Make sure that it is not a problem with the remote. You can do this by replacing the battery in it or pushing the button inside of your garage. Your transmitter may also be defective or your neighbors may be using the same type or frequency as you. This can cause everything to not work properly.
In the event that your garage door opens, but will not close; you could have an issue with the photo eyes. These eyes are designed to tell the door when it is safe to close because there is nothing around the door. If an eye is not lined up properly, it could be that the eyes think something is in the way. Sometimes it could simply be that they need cleaned up. However, if the door opens slower than normal, listen for sounds that may sound like rubs. If the tracks are off, your door will open and closer slower, plus make a noise. You will also want to check the tracks to make sure there is not any mud or small debris on them if your door starts to close and then stops or reverses direction.
There may also be broken chains or other issues. To check for this issue, most likely the doors will not move at all, but if they do, you will be able to visually check for issues. If you still are not able to come up with an issue, it may be time to ask for help. A door openers installer could point you into the right direction and save you a lot of time.
At some point, every garage door will need a new opener. For some people, this means that they must hire a professional to come in and take care of it. For others, they want to know more about whether they can install a new door opener on their own. That is why we are here to say that you can avoid paying others. We know that you can tackle easy DIY garage doors opener installation. However, the first step is making sure that it is the opener and not the door that is causing your issues. This can be done by testing the doors balance to see if it can stay halfway opened on its own and by looking to make sure that there are no broken parts.
Once you have determined that the door is fin
e, you will want to choose the right opener for your garage door. Ideally, you will choose either a 1/2-hp or a 3/4-hp door opener. Choosing larger is a waste of money since your garage door will only open so fast. You will also need to choose chain driven, belt driven, or a screw driven opener. In some cases, it is easiest to go back with the type of opener you had before.
The hardest part of actually installing the opener is that you will have to assemble it and then mount it to the header bracket. The bracket is going to be above the door. Some people find it useful to either have a helper or use ladders and wood to hold it up while you continue to hang it. It is also recommended that you use angle irons rather than flimsy straps when hanging it to ensure you do not have to tackle the repair again in the future. You will also want to replace the photoelectric eyes and wall button openers while you are at it. This also means replacing worn wires and all other things that you can see.
After the install, you will then want to make sure that the door functions the way it is supposed to. This means the force of the open and close. Does it stop if you apply pressure to it? As a safety feature, all doors stop if something solid is under them or pushed against them. If your door stops, you are done with the repair. If it doesn’t, you may need to try again to repair it.
Tips & Guides
Garages are nice to have. They provide extra storage for items you don’t need often, an area for tools and bicycles, and they give you a place to put your vehicle so that it is not outside in the wea
ther. The downside is; a garage without reliable, easy to open doors will not be a good garage for you. Therefore, if you are having issues with your garage door opening or you are just now getting the garage that you have always dreamed of owning, we are here to help you choose the perfect garage doors opener for your home.
When it comes to garage door openers, there are only three types. You have the chain drive opener, belt drive opener, and screw drive openers. These garage door openers are all good, in their own way, but all of them have drawbacks that may make them more or less perfect for your home.
For instance, a chain drive opener is ideal for people who want an affordable garage door opener. They are the cheapest option available and they are very reliable over years of use. They have very few working parts that may wear out over time because it is a chain and trolley setup. However, they are noisy and perhaps not ideal for someone who frequently comes home during the late night hours, unless you have a detached garage. If you have an attached garage, you may prefer a belt driven door opener. It is a lot quieter than the chain, but it is also more expensive to install.
The lowest maintenance option is the screw drive door opener. There are fewer components with this than the other two options. It is installed using a steel rod, which moves the trolley. They are noisier than the belt driven opener, but not as noisy as the chain. They often require very little maintenance, no matter how long you have it installed.
By using motors, both electric and those with a battery backup, you can control all of these options with a remote-control garage doors opener. It is important that you have both a battery and electric connections. The battery will help you when the power goes out and you need to exit or enter the garage. After all, the whole point of a remote opener is to ensure that you are not locked out when the weather is bad.
